title: A novel therapeutic regimen for hepatic fibrosis using the combination of mesenchymal stem cells and baicalin.
abstract: Baicalin, isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, while mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capability of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. In the present study, we found that baicalin could promote differentiation of bone marrow-derived MSCs into hepatocytes in vitro. We then compared the therapeutic effects of five therapeutic regimens for hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in vivo by analysis of serum enzymes, morphological characteristics, cytokines and cell engraftment. Transplantation of MSCs alone was able to promote partial recovery of liver function and suppression of liver inflammation, but showed little effect on reducing the fibrotic area; transplantation with baicalin-treated MSCs gave an improved therapeutic effect; MSC transplantation and baicalin administration showed a synergistic effect; transplantation with baicalin-treated MSCs in combination with baicalin administration had the best therapeutic effect for hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, we conclude that transplantation of pre-differentiated MSC together with baicalin administration may serve as an effective therapeutic regimen for severe liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Hongcan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jingfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C038044:baicalin; D014508:Urea; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D006909:Hydroxyproline